Synopsis

Naka is an aspiring young model with a problem: her face tenses up into a terrifying spectacle whenever she gets nervous on photo shoots! Naka's rival is Umi, the hottest model at their agency. But Naka soon discovers Umi's secret—and hilarity ensues behind the cameras!

I just recently finished reading the available chapters of this manga and I must admit it got me hooked up.I was searching for something fresh and entertaining after reading more serious stuff and "bumped" into this series.
The story is cute and although the gender bender detail is pretty weird,it's thins detail that actually makes this manga interesting!
What I most like about the manga is the relationship between the main characters,which gives the reader a confortable feeling.Naka is a girl full of complexes because people keep on telling her that she has a criminal-like face while Umi is a person that lives 2 completely different lives,being forced by the cicumstances to pretend to be someone else almost all the time.While becoming friends,the two of them start understanding each other and healing each other's pains.Naka finally founds somebody who accepts her together with her flaws,while Umi finally finds somebody to whom he can show his true self.After all,isn't this everyone wants to find?A place where you can be yourself,a place next to someone who understands you and accepts you the way you are?I think this is the main idea of this manga and this is the thing I like most about it.
The plot is also fun and it gets more and more interesting while the storyline evolves.So if you start reading it and don't find it interesting don't worry!Please give it a chance and don't drop it!If at first this manga seems pretty ordinary,you'll be surprised be the fact that it gets more and more fun!You'll get the chance to see really cute moment ^_^ and you'll find out surprising new parts of the characters' personalities and feelings (especially the boys').And if it doesn't seem interesting enough,how about the beginning of a love triangle?
As a conclusion,I think that if you are a shoujo manga fan , Charming Junkie is a promising manga that you should consider reading!Sorry for not giving other details,but they would have all turn into spoilers probably XDread more

I decided to edit my previous review and disregard my bias towards this manga. First of all, the story is original in small ways (such as the female lead unable to smile correctly) but is still enjoyable like other model based manga's. The characters, as the series goes on, are very much like teenagers trying to survive in the fierce entertainment light. And Fukuyama-sensei manages to combine both maturity and innocence in each of them. The artwork is very appealing, nothing skwed or makes you want to give up.

This manga is probably one of my favourites. I was surprised when I found out that it wasn't as popular as I thought, and this manga should really get more recognition for its coolness. ANYWAYS.

I love the story, this gender bender goes beyond the stereotypical sneak-into-a-school romance, instead it's about modelling.This story is humourous, captivating, and the romance is equally as enjoying with its characters. Even though the two main characters fall in love rather easily and earlier in the story, it's still entertaining.

The artist executes the art perfectly and personally, I am a fan of the clothing designs.

The characters are funny and unique, and they stray a bit away from your typical shoujo manga heroine. Naka, being a tall and pretty model, fails at smiling when she gets too nervous. Umi, a male pretending to be a female model, is quirky character who repeatedly insults Naka and is generally a rude and bad-tempered, softens as the manga processes.

I have definitely enjoyed this manga. The wonderful execution of romantic comedy, watching the main characters grow and see the story unfolds motivates me to keep on reading. I hope more English chapters release, as I will be keeping an eye out for this one.read more

I recently finished reading this manga and it got me really hooked up.

- The story is funny and romantic with the right amount of drama and seriousness. Although it's not like one of those type that you can say as "superb"romance manga, it is still very enjoyable to read. I like how the mangaka does not focus on the main characters only but instead gives everyone their own moment and a chance for character development as the story progressed.

- The art is great. I like how everyone is drawn especially Naka, her "criminal face" is super funny; (there was even a time when I laughed really loud because of her face expression practice) I also find her really beautiful during her photoshoots.

- Each characters personality are cute and unique. Considering their age as teenagers I find their personality pretty realistic especially in dealing about love and teenage life issues. All of the characters has their own strength and weaknesses. There is no character that really got in my nerves...well...except Umi maybe as I have a love/hate relationship with him, one moment I find him very charming and sweet and then next moment, I'm getting annoyed at him ( It really irritates me how he freaked out about body changes he might experience as a teenage boy and then became depressed in the next chapters bcoz his body is "not" changing like all other teenage boys... It got me saying "seriously! Umi, what do you really want?!")...My favorite character is Chihiro because he is funny and observant to everyone around him and treasure his friends :)

- Overall, if you want something refreshing to read, this manga is a must read ^^,read more